Myer's new flagship department store (Melb)

tayser · #1 Posted **Apr 15, 2011, 1:56 PM**

New as in completely renovated.

The original Myer Melbourne was over two separate buildings (Bourke Street Myer and Lonsdale Street) - Myer has halved its actual floor space, gutted the original Myer Emporium on the Bourke St Mall and built this:

quoting Sky_is_the_limit on OzScrapers

Quote:

The Bourke Street Mall with the famous Myer Melbourne building on the left

Myer Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall facade

Front on view of Myer Melbourne's beautiful Bourke Street Mall facade

Upper levels

Looking up

The interior

Looking down to the cosmetics hall

The Lonsdale Street building which Myer retreated from, is now under reconstruction - will be called just "Emproium"

Quote:

Originally Posted by boglegraham on OzScrapers

Jasoncw · #2 Posted **Apr 17, 2011, 4:49 AM**

I don't personally care too much for it, but I really like that a downtown department store is getting that kind of design attention.

ardecila · #3 Posted **Apr 17, 2011, 8:16 PM**

I thought department stores were dying?

Apparently not outside the US. Department stores in the UK, France, Germany, and now Australia are all embarking on massive, architectural showpieces.

Meanwhile, in the US, they're either consolidating into 2 or 3 massive impersonal chains, or they're closing shop.

Personally, I've always liked shopping at department stores instead of running around to 10 small shops, or limiting myself to the selection of 2 or 3 small shops. Apart from Zara, I get almost all of my clothes from department stores (usually Carson's or Macy's, Bloomie's if I can swing it).

miketoronto · #4 Posted **Apr 17, 2011, 10:52 PM**

I am still not sure what to think of the redesign.
I think maybe the history of the building could have been better respected on the inside.

Overall though, great to see such a effort put into a downtown store.

tayser · #5 Posted **Apr 18, 2011, 12:30 AM**

The "history" of the inside of the shop was destroyed in the 80s - it was a carvernous shithole!

Skylights are back in fashion.

hammersklavier · #6 Posted **Apr 18, 2011, 6:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

I thought department stores were dying?

Well Penney's, Macy's, and the Bon-Ton are all reporting increased revenues according to the retail trade publications...it's the single-department big boxes (like Best Buy) which are taking the big hits. Sears would be doing the same too if their upper management wasn't a total clusterf@ck.

Penney's also recently put in a new Manhattan flagship in the old Gimbels space on 34th Street.